Let's Get Spiritual!
“On the day I called, You answered me; my strength of soul You increased.”- Psalm 138:3 (ESV)
One of the things I love to do in the summer is SWIMMING. I love the refreshing water on hot days. I love doing laps to get in a good workout. And I love the time alone to gather my thoughts, close out the noisy world, and seek God. Psalm 105:4 declares, “Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.”
I have found that physical exercise is a great time to get spiritual! As one builds up the body, they can also flex their spiritual muscles. It helps to have the physical and spiritual working in tandem, growing in unison, and relying on strength from the Lord. On multiple occasions Paul uses the discipline of exercise to convey truth about living out one’s devotion to God. In 1 Corinthians 9:24 he writes, “Do you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”
My swimming times have created a special place to spend with God, strengthen my faith, and speak blessings over others. During swims I find myself toggling between recalling Scriptures, singing worship songs, and praying for people. I picked up this pool prayer practice from the wonderful movie about Mr. Rogers (A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood). What a joy to exercise my physical body and my prayer life at the same time (I am sure I have prayed for you during my swims)! Ephesians 6:18 calls us to lift up the people and needs around us, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
God is wanting you to be built up in every way. 1 Timothy 4:8 says, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” It is time to get spiritual! When you take a run, put on worship music; as you take a walk, pray for your neighbors; as you exert yourself, memorize and declare Scriptures. A healthy heart and a holy heart can go hand in hand.